Mule Ade Recipes

Steps:

• Make the rosemary-infused rum: Place a sprig of rosemary in each of two 16-ounce mason jars. Pour 2 cups rum into each jar and close tightly. Let infuse for 2 to 3 days at room temperature.
• Make the ginger syrup: In a small pot over medium heat, combine the sugar, ginger and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Let cool 20 minutes, then strain. (You can also skip this step and use store-bought ginger syrup.)
• Mix each drink individually: Rub the rim of a copper cup with maple syrup, then dip in turbinado sugar. Fill a cocktail shaker with 1/4 cup ice. Add 1/4 cup rosemary-infused rum, 1/4 cup ginger syrup and 1/3 cup punch or soda. Stir, then add ice to the copper cup and pour in the drink. Squeeze a few lime slices into the drink, then garnish with a rosemary sprig, cherries and a slice of lime.

Steps:

• Add the lemon juice, limoncello, vodka and a few ice cubes to a Moscow mule mug. Top off with ginger beer to fill the glass. Garnish with lemon wheels.
• Grate the zest from the lemons using a Microplane grater, taking care to leave the pith behind. Place the zest in a 3-quart pitcher. Pour the vodka over it and stir. Cover with plastic wrap and set in a spot where it won't be disturbed, at room temperature, and let steep 1 week.
• Combine 3 1/2 cups water and the sugar in a large saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
• Let cool completely, then pour the syrup into the pitcher with the zest and stir. Cover tightly again and let stand for 24 hours. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve and discard the solids. Pour into clean bottles with tight-fitting caps. Refrigerate until well chilled, at least 4 hours or up to 1 month.
• "One Dish at a Time: Delicious Recipes from My Italian-American Childhood and Beyond" by Valerie Bertinelli © Rodale 2012. Provided courtesy of Valerie Bertinelli. All rights reserved.

Steps:

• Fill a 20-ounce cocktail shaker halfway with crushed ice. Add the vodka, lime juice, blood orange juice and grenadine. Put on the lid and shake thoroughly for 15 to 20 seconds so the flavors combine and chill with the ice.
• Add a few ice cubes to a 16-ounce copper Moscow mule mug, if you have one, or a glass. Strain the liquid over the ice cubes. Top up the mug or glass with ginger beer. Garnish with mint sprigs, blood orange slices and Candied Cranberries.
• Place a sheet of parchment paper on a sheet pan.
• Pour 3/4 cup water and 3/4 cup of the sugar into a saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer on a low heat for 3 minutes. Stir to ensure the sugar has dissolved into the water and the result is a syrup consistency.
• Add the cranberries to the pan and stir so they are covered in the syrup. Remove the pan from the heat and stir for 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, remove the cranberries from the pan and add them to the prepared sheet pan. Allow the cranberries to cool and dry, about 1 hour.
• Pour the remaining sugar into a bowl. Add the cranberries and toss until they are thoroughly coated in the sugar. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.